Sprayer hinge assembly



INVENTOR 9 F Bray/N N E Y Dec. 27, 1955 R. F. BROYHILL SPRAYER HINGE ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 30, 1953 2 l 5 6 5 w a 3 6 2 2 2 3 2 8 fi w H m w United States Patent SPRAYER HINGE ASSEMBLY Roy F. Broyhill, Dakota City, Nebr.

Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,182

2 Claims. (Cl. 287-100) My invention relates to a sprayer hinge assembly.

An object of my invention is to provide a special type of hinge in connection with Sprayers of the type which have laterally extending booms, and which booms include spring resistant means for absorbing shock encountered in either direction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a spring type joint which will allow the booms to be raised over obstacles.

A further object of my invention is to provide a joint which will allow the booms to be carried rearwardly or forwardly to a locked position wherein the booms will be held in such position while the vehicle carrying the booms travel through a gate or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a joint wherein the spring tension is always applied to the booms in such a manner that the tension will always be centralized to the proper line of direction.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the hinge assembly,

Figure 2 is a forward elevation of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 taken substantially along the line 3-3, and

Figure 4 is a detail showing the pivoting action.

My invention contemplates the provision of a joint in connection with spraying devices of the type for spraying weed killing solutions or disinfectant on to a field, and it should be understood herein that my invention pertains particularly to the type of joint itself and not to the entire apparatus.

I have used the character to designate an angle memr ber, this angle member providing the stationary portion of a spraying arrangement which is usually attached to a wheeled vehicle and I have used the character 11 to indicate a further angle member which is adapted to be pivoted either horizontally or vertically there usually being an angle member 11 at either side of the member 10.

Passing through the angle members 10 and 11 are the short nipples 12 communicating with the spray heads 13, the nipples 12 communicating with the further pipes 14 and 15, the pipes 14 and 15 usually being connected by a flexible rubber hose 16 adapted to allow pivoting of the pipe 15 with respect to the pipe 14, the supply of liquid being connected into the circuit and with the pumping action applied in the proper manner, whereby the sprays will direct the fluid downwardly for the purpose of killing weeds and the like.

The angle member 10 is welded at 17 to a horizontal plate 18, which plate includes the pair of slots 19 terminating in the further slot portions 20, the slots 19 including the bevelled portions at 21.

Receiving the plate 18 are a pair of further plates 22 between which plates 22 are attached a pair of fixed pins 23, the pins 23 being adapted to be received within the slots 19 or 20.

The outer plates 22 are Welded to a cylindrical sleeve 24 through which sleeve passes a bolt 25, the bolt 25 passing through a U-shaped yoke 26 having extending portions 27, the angle member 11 being welded to the yoke 26 at 28.

Welded to the angle members 10 and 11 at 29 are a pair of hook members 30, and engaging the members 30 are the ends31 of the fairly stiif coiled spring member 32.

Welded at 33 to the lower plate 22 are a pair of pipe members 34 between which the spring 32 is positioned.

The hinge operates in the following manner. In the event thatan obstacle strikes the swinging boom portion 11, it will be noted that the plates 22 will pivot about either of the pins 23, with the other pin 23 being carried out of the slot 19.

For instance, as shown in Figure 4, assuming that the boom is swinging in the direction of the arrow 35, the lower pin 23 as viewed in Figure 3 will pass out of the opening 19. At an extreme angle, the pin 23 will be carried into the right angle slot portion 20 (see Figure 4) which will prevent the plates 22 from becoming dislodged from the plate 18 and many times this extreme swinging action will be employed when passing through gates and the like so that the booms can be positioned practically longitudinally. It will be observed that the action of the spring 32 will be applied at all times in direct alignment with the stationary frame work portion 10, since the bosses or pipes 34 will keep the spring in a central position for this purpose. In this manner there will be no danger of the spring tension being applied in any other direction than that in a direct line with the stationary frame work.

By virtue of this construction, the boom can swing freely in either direction where required, with the looking action within the slots 20 being supplied when necessary to prevent dislodgement of the boom.

If desired, the boom angle 11 can be lowered to cause the spring 32 to drop beneath the bosses 34, and then the boom can be swung to forward or rearward position, and thereby be held firmly in such position by the spring. This feature is useful when transporting the unit.

In many cases it is desired to raise the booms 11 over obstacles in which case the booms can be pivoted upwardly in the direction of the arrow 36 as shown in Figure 2 with the spring tension being applied to return the boom to normal position. The sloping portion 21 permits the pins 23 to reenter the slots 19 in a uniform manner upon return of the boom to such normal position.

It will now be noted that the hinge assembly of my invention provides the various advantages set forth in the objects of my invention with various other advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a sprayer unit, a stationary member attached thereto, a swinging member movable with respect to said stationary member, a hinge assembly comprising a flat plate attached to said stationary member, said flat plate having a pair of slots therein, said slots having open ends, a pair of further fiat plates receiving said plate, pins attached between said further plates, said further plates being attached to said movable member whereby swinging movement of said movable member will cause pivoting about either of said pins, said movable member being pivotally hinged to said further plates to provide for vertical swinging of said movable member, said slots having further slot portions substantially at right angles thereto to provide locking action of said swinging member when swung to a substantially large angle, a tension spring attached to said stationary member and said movable member.

2. In combination with a sprayer unit, a stationary member attached thereto, a swinging member movable with respect to said stationary member, a hinge assembly comprising a flat plate attached to said stationary member, said fiat plate having a pair of slots therein, said slots having open ends, a pair of further flat plates receiving said plate, pins attached between said further plates, said further plates being attached to said movable member whereby swinging movement of said movable member will cause pivoting about either of said pins, said movable member being pivotally hinged to said further plates to provide for vertical swinging of said movable member, said slots having further slot portions substantially at right angles thereto to provide locking action of said swinging member when swung to a substantially large angle, a tension spring attached to said stationary member and said movable member, a pair of vertically positioned bosses secured to one of said further plates, said spring passing between said bosses whereby the spring action of said spring will be in constant alignment with said stationary member during any position of said movable member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,948 Gallupe Aug. 15, 1939 2,532,996 Clark Dec. 5, 1950 2,548,209 Foster Apr. 10, 1951 2,610,076 Walsh Sept. 9, 1952 

